Personal takes on branding, packaging, typography, and creative direction, with occasional peeks at my own work and process.
Another addition to the library. Admittedly I know very little about the graphic design landscape there but this book is going to help fix that. There’s a wonderful, nostalgic mid-1990s flair to a lot of the work that will have me studying the pages in detail. Compiled and published by Counter-Print books. It’s bold and colorful. Get this.
This is my desk—my studio, really. I once thought about renting a dedicated office space, but dropping a thousand a month on rent and utilities just didn’t appeal to me. Besides, I’d probably have the same square footage if I worked at a design firm. Space isn’t an issue; it’s the vibe that matters. My corner has its own mood, much different from my wife’s neat desk right next to mine. Here, I’m surrounded by books, magazines, vintage lenses, manuals, boxes, paper samples, action figures, lighting gear, an extra pair of socks, and even an air fryer just out of frame. It’s convenience within arm’s length.
Japan is the land of great packaging. This is by far the greatest reference and inspirational book that I own. Don’t let the age of this compilation lead you to believe that it’s outdated. I guarantee that if you step into any 7-Eleven, Lawson’s or Sunkas convenient store, you will see the legacy of this work. Old is gold!
Polaroid Land Camera brochure. I like the layout and the typography of the past much more than any current camera brochure. I have a working 420 model with peel-apart film that I’m saving for something monumental.
As far back as I can remember, this album cover sparked my curiosity about photography and graphic design. Stevie Wonder’s Music of My Mind is packed with stunning images, bold typography, and layouts that caught my eye as a kid. I didn’t know what graphic design was back then, but I understood that someone created it—someone with a skill I didn’t have, but knew I wanted to learn.
If there’s one music group that encapsulates my vibe, it’s The UMC’s, a rap duo from Staten Island that played a huge role in shaping my confidence and expressive personality. Back in high school during the early ’90s, I pretended to vibe with the same MCs all the other Black students were into. But in reality, I gravitated toward artists like The UMC’s and Leaders of the New School. Their infectious rhymes and uplifting energy resonated with me at a time when it wasn’t ‘cool’ to smile and be happy.
Decades later, I still carry that with me—working to bring uplifting vibes to everything I do.
Thank you Haas G and Kool Kim
Archigram 1961-1974 (Architecture and Performance) poster by designer Ralph Schraivogel—an absolute standout featured in New Typographics 2 back in 1997. As a design student, I was captivated by the innovative techniques that he used to create this work. Almost thirty years later it’s still fresh!
